Incentive aims to increase trainer accreditations
The Training Foundation has joined forces with the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) in an arrangement designed to increase the number of applicants seeking FSSC Recognised Trainer status by making the recognition process more affordable.
The FSSC Recognised Trainer Scheme is designed for trainers who work independently or within financial services organisations as in-house trainers and who wish to gain public recognition for the quality of training they deliver. To gain recognition, a trainer must provide evidence that they meet an industry standard.
Applicants seeking recognition are required to hold an FSSC-recognised training qualification (a minimum of Level Three) or to undergo a training delivery skills assessment by The Training Foundation prior to making the self-audit application.
Trainers successfully completing the self-audit are listed on the FSSC website and are able to use the Council's recognition logo on professional materials. The FSSC self-audit fee is £500 plus VAT for non-members.
Under the new agreement, financial services sector trainers attending the three-day TAP (Trainer Assessment Programme) Delivery Skills Refresher course via The Training Foundation public programme will receive a free voucher to cover the full FSSC £500 audit fee together with their Level Three equivalency qualification certificate. The standard course fee of £1,160 plus VAT includes this audit voucher.
Sara Powell, FSSC accreditation manager, said: " The Training Foundation has been working closely with us to support the development of the recognised trainer initiative and has proved to be the ideal partner to provide practical advice and assistance at every stage.
" This new incentive underlines our commitment to promoting the highest standards of training expertise right across our sector. "
The Training Foundation's operations director Adrian Snook added: " The fact that TAP was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation last year has further consolidated the programme's status as the trainer certification scheme of choice.
" We applaud the FSSC's drive to raise training standards in the sector and are keen to assist potential applicants for Recognised Trainer status to achieve this in the most cost-effective way. By eliminating the cost of the self audit fee the voucher scheme will effectively provide the applicant with valuable FSSC recognition for the basic cost of a highly respected training qualification. "
Learning and development professionals in the financial services sector will have the opportunity to learn more about this scheme at a Sector Skills Connection event, to be hosted by The Training Foundation on 24th May.
Speakers include Sara Powell from the FSSC, Darren Moxom team leader for industry training at the Financial Services Authority, Nick Mitchell chief executive of The Training Foundation, and Adrian Snook operations director at The Training Foundation.